Author Note: New chapter story. This is just a short introduction to the fic before the story starts properly in the next one.

It was the end of a late-night shift for the both of them when they walked out the front doors and in to the car park. "Serena," Ric called after her as he caught up. "You were not going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?"

In the morning Serena would be taking a flight to Washington DC and staying for slightly more than one month to help with a contract for Holby which she had spearheaded. She and Ric had discussed the matter at great length as neither trusted why Guy Self would allow her to go for so long considering the work she would be doing should not last that duration. She had said four weeks to the CEO simply to see how far she could push it before he realised she was just wanting a bit more time away but he had simply signed off on it without a question.

"Are you going to miss me?" She teased.

He rolled his eyes in reply before smiling, "I wouldn't say that. I'm stunned that you are allowing me to back to full reign on Keller."

"Don't remind me!" As much as she was kidding around with him she truly felt worried about letting go of the ward, even if she did actually trust Ric a bit more than she acted. They had both been running between Keller and AAU that he was prepared to be much calmer being back on the single ward as even Mr Self could see that there was no way Ric could run both to a suitable standard.

"Have a good time."

"I will." They stood looking at each other, unsure how they felt about not seeing their colleague for four weeks.

"Where is Eleanor spending the time?" Ric asked, thinking it would be safer to stay on neutral ground than delve further in to the feelings they did not understand.

"With her father; I know it is a ridiculous idea but I have no other option." Ric could see she was still angry with her ex but he did believe she was over him on a romantic level.

Serena loved her daughter but found herself unable to allow the nineteen year old to stay in their house alone, fearing the mess that she would come back to after the obligatory house parties. Thankfully she would be going back to university almost as soon as Serena returned so they would have some time apart which - after a number of months together - would be quite welcomed. The past week had been additionally tougher as Eleanor had been under the weather with some sort of food poisoning which meant she was vomiting a couple of times a day, especially when attempting to keep meals down and it had turned her incredibly moody.

Over the two and a half years they had known the person opposite them the easiest contact they had seemed to be kissing the other's cheek. The most awkward of those had been when Edward had been watching before Ric's disastrous alumni dinner but they had put that time to the furthest away part of their brain. She leaned in just as he did the same and it worked perfectly. Their lips touched the side of the other's face and stayed there for longer than they had intended.

"Well... I will see you in thirty-three days."

Tilting her head to the side a playful glint showing in her eyes, "That almost sounds like you will be counting them down."

"I need to know how long I have to make Keller what it once was."

"You would require years to do that if I ever properly leave."

"Holby will crumble to its knees without your suggestions." He took a step back from her, aware how close they had become over the course of the few minutes in the car park. The conversation could have finished a long time before but they had noticed they had a habit of extending their interactions without any intent.

There were no mentions of keeping in touch while she was in the States, they still did not act like good friends outside of the hospital walls, but they knew that for the immediate future the absence of their antagonist would be quite a change. He watched her turn away and he shook his head, he had never met anyone like Serena Campbell before and honestly he did not truly want to meet one again. She was enough for one life. Ric was about to walk to his own car when he noticed her turn her head once more and waved; it was at that moment they sensed they needed time apart from each other to gain a better grasp of what they wanted from the friendship.